Hyndburn

Council set to shut door on Oswaldtwistle homes bid

PLANS for a major planning development in Oswaldtwistle look set to be rejected.

An application for 52 detached and semi-detached homes, a children’s nursery, and a care home were lodged with Hyndburn Council last year.

But a report written by chief planning and transportation officer Simon Prideaux has recommended the plans are refused, because they do not include affordable housing or enough open space.

Local councillor Peter Britcliffe said the news was ‘disappointing’.

The neighbourhood of new homes would have been built on the former site of Joseph Metcalf, in Brookside Lane, which closed in 2008 after trading for more than 120 years in East Lancashire. The development would have seen five bungalows, six four-bedroom semi-detached homes, 16 four-bedroom detached homes, and nine four or five bedroom semi-detached homes built.

Plans also show designs for a children’s play area, a 70-place children’s day nursery and a two-storey 30-bed residential care home.

A public meeting at Stanhill Working Men’s Club in September drew several comments from nearby residents. Most welcomed the idea, but several raised concerns over traffic in letters to the council.

In a report that will go before a planning committee on Wednesday, Mr Prideaux said developers failed to comply with core strategy policies. He said: “The proposal is contrary to planning policy. The proposed development comprises 100 per cent of open market housing with no provision for affordable housing.

“The proposed development fails to provide sufficient or suitable public open space on site, nor has an off-site contribution been made in lieu of on-site provision.”

He also said technical information concerning noise and flood-risk assessments were ‘insufficient’.

Oswaldtwistle councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “If there are problems, they need to be looked into, but in broad terms, I would welcome this development with open arms.

“It would bring more people and extra trade into the area, so I’m disappointed, but I hope the council can speak to the developers, and an agreement can be reached.”

Comments (2)

why do we need large homes in this area? Just who are they being
built for? Surely If any houses are to be built then because of recent
trends smaller one and two bedroom units would be a more sensible
option, since people now have to downsize because of the bedroom
tax, and also for financial reasons...
If developers are allowed to build in Oswaldtwistle, then I hope the
contract does not go to the people who built the ugly monstrosities
on Blackburn Road at Church.

why do we need large homes in this area? Just who are they being
built for? Surely If any houses are to be built then because of recent
trends smaller one and two bedroom units would be a more sensible
option, since people now have to downsize because of the bedroom
tax, and also for financial reasons...
If developers are allowed to build in Oswaldtwistle, then I hope the
contract does not go to the people who built the ugly monstrosities
on Blackburn Road at Church.ossymargaret4

If you need proof that larger houses are needed you only have to look at the new development at Stanhill where most of the larger houses have already been snapped up.

Also, a letter to the council on 16th January refers to a copy of the core stratigists in 2011, agreeing that any future scheme would NOT have any affordable housing as the council only wanted executive homes only in this area.

If you need proof that larger houses are needed you only have to look at the new development at Stanhill where most of the larger houses have already been snapped up.
Also, a letter to the council on 16th January refers to a copy of the core stratigists in 2011, agreeing that any future scheme would NOT have any affordable housing as the council only wanted executive homes only in this area.ossy1965